RightThingRightTime

What a "village idiot" County Commission President Dale Manuel came off as on being interviewed by WHAG channel 25. Very unprofessional and he has no business being in the selection process for a replaqcement Sheriff. Good luck Bobby and thanks for your years of being a public servant. Your conduct was wrong but I understand your feelings upon chasing and then encountering the fleeing felon.

callie

The word "he" is the only option thought of. Take the time to really look at qualified candidates who even want the job. You caught me. Only lived in WV for 17 years. My former state had many distinguished female police officers, most of them state troopers. Guaranteed they don't flinch once when enforcing the law.

Danner

Deputy

If you do your history I think you will find Jefferson County has had a female Sheriff. Ballenger should be looked at very hard for this appointment has all the background and experiencne for the job ( CIA,retired from JCSD,USA Army) and is the only Deputy to stand up to Shirley by haveing the back bone to write an offical complaint against Shirley for a crime Shirley committed years ago. Sounds to me like someone thats not affaid to do what is right and that is what this Dept. needs right now.

wordsofathena

MR. Ballenger ran a good, clean and decent campaign. this man has always been professional,honest,an above all he will always do right by everyone.All officers who know him an have worked with him, no he would never harm or hurt another soul to do it. Earls nickname has always been smiley, he's quiet, soft spoken,and most important he listens. He's one of a kind left,he should be a keeper. This man had 10,216 votes. he even had more than Boober in the primary. The people have spoken,we need to do the right thing.

angeldust

Wordsofathena Mr Ballenger needs to go to the clerks office and register as a Democrat now and them see what happens.I bet he don't get it but if he would at best it will be a new start for the dept. right now until 2014.

GOPChair

Mr. Ballenger should crertainly be considered, even if he doesn't change his registrataion. This would be a good test of the Code requirement that the replacement be from the same Party. Many believe that these County offices such as Sheriff, Clerk, etc. should be non-partisan. Mr. Ballenger was basically independent and only registered as a Republican in order to be able to run (he believed that the Department that he served for many years deserved better). The GOP Executive Committee, at its meeting on Saturday voted to send out a press release on the matter. The reference in the Journal article paraphases the release out of context. I will print the entire release in another comment. Chair, Jeff. Co. GOP

GOPChair

Charles Town, WV – The Jefferson County Republican Executive Committee commends Jefferson County Sheriff Bobby Shirley on his decision to step down in light of new evidence in his Federal Civil Rights case. We believe that Sheriff Shirley is acting in what he believes to be the best interests of the county and of the Sheriff’s Department, and we agree.

We hope that the Jefferson County Democrat Executive Committee will be fair and open-minded when submitting to the County Commission their nominees for his replacement, bearing in mind that Sheriff Shirley won his November election by less than 400 votes out of more than 21,000 cast over his Republican opponent, Earl Ballenger, after winning the primary by a 64% to 36% margin over fellow Democrat Ed Boober.

We again laud Sheriff Shirley for his admirable decision and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Johnnycash

Johnnycash

I was so, so wrong! I have never been more wrong. I completely screwed up backing Shirley. I am completely ashamed of my misjudgement to go on an on about Shirley being innocent when he has made me look so foolish by giving up so easily before going to trial. I realize I look stupid. I will stop now and shut up because I now realize that I was wrong... Majortorian